Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - The maximum level of certain
contaminants permitted in drinking water supplied by a public water system
as set by EPA under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) - The maximum level of a
contaminant that is associated with no adverse health effects from drinking
water containing that contaminant over a lifetime. For chemicals believed
to cause cancer, the MCLGs are set at zero. MCLGs are not enforceable,
but are ideal, health-based goals which are set in the National Primary
Drinking Water Standards developed by EPA. MCLs are set as close to MCLGs
as possible, considering costs and technology.

mechanisms of toxicity - The biochemical
method by which a chemical reacts in a living organism.

medical waste - All wastes from hospitals,
clinics, or other health care facilities ("Red Bag Waste") that contain
or have come into contact with diseased tissues or infectious microorganisms.
Also referred to as infectious waste which is hazardous waste with infectious
characteristics, including: contaminated animal waste, human blood and
blood products, pathological waste, and discarded sharps (needles, scalpels,
or broken medical instruments).

microbial pesticides - Microorganisms
that kill or inhibit pests, including insects or other microorganisms.
Sometimes microorganisms get rid of pests simply by growing larger in
numbers, using up the pests' food supply, and invading the pests' environment.

microorganisms - Bacteria, yeasts,
simple fungi, algae, protozoans, and a number of other organisms that
are microscopic in size. Most are beneficial but some produce disease.
Others are involved in composting and sewage treatment.

milligrams/liter (mg/l) - A measure of concentration used in the
measurement of fluids. Mg/l is the most common way to present a concentration
in water and is roughly equivalent to parts per million.

minimization - Measures or techniques that reduce the amount of
wastes generated during industrial production processes; this term also
is applied to recycling and other efforts to reduce the volume of waste
going to landfills. This term is interchangeable with waste reduction
and waste minimization.

mites - Tiny eight-legged animals that live
off plants, animals or stored food.

miticides - Kill mites that feed on plants and animals

mitigation - Measures taken to reduce adverse effects on the environment.

mildews - Thin coatings of powdery fungi
that can grow on damp surfaces like bathroom tiles and corners of the
bathtub.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) - The
primary permitting program under the Clean Water Act which regulates all
discharges to surface water.

National Response Center (NRC) - The primary communications center
operated by the U.S. Coast Guard to receive reports of major chemical
and oil spills and other hazardous substances into the environment. The
NRC immediately relays reports to a predesignated federal On-Scene
Coordinator.

neutralization - The chemical process in which the acidic or basic
characteristics of a fluid are changed to those of water (pH = 7).

No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) or No Observed Effect
Level (NOEL) - A level of exposure
which does not cause observable harm.

No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) - The highest dose in
a toxicity stufy which does not result in adverse health effects. Combine
with above

non-agricultural sectors - General term which refers to a combination
of home/garden and industrial/commercial/governmental sectors.

nonpoint source - Any source of pollution not associated with
a distinct discharge point. Includes sources such as rainwater, runoff
from agricultural lands, industrial sites, parking lots, and timber operations,
as well as escaping gases from pipes and fittings.

non-target organism - Any organism
for which the pesticide was not intended to control.

On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) - The federal official
responsible for the coordination of a hazardous materials response action,
as specified in individual Regional Contingency Plans. OSCs are predesignated
by EPA for inland areas and by the U.S. Coast Guard for coastal areas.
The OSC coordinates all federal containment, removal, and disposal efforts
and resources during a pollution incident. The OSC is the point of contact
for the coordination of federal efforts with those of the local response
community. The OSC has access to extensive federal resources, including
the National Strike Force, the Environmental
Response Team, and Scientific Support Coordinators. The OSC can be
a source of valuable support and information to the community.

OPCumRisk - A computer program developed at ORD's NHEERL to determine
relative potency estimates and PoDs for the index chemical.

organically grown - Food, feed crops, and livestock grown within
an intentionally-diversified, self-sustaining agro-ecosystem. In practice,
farmers build up nutrients in the soil using compost, agricultural wastes,
and cover crops instead of synthetically derived fertilizers to increase
productivity, rotate crops, weed mechanically, and reduce dramatically
their dependence on the entire family of pesticides. Farmers must be certified
to characterize crops as organically grown and can only use approved natural
and synthetic biochemicals, agents,
and materials for three consecutive years prior to harvest. Livestock
must be fed a diet that includes grains and forages that have been organically
grown and cannot receive hormones, sub-therapeutic antibiotics, or other
growth promoters.

other pesticide chemicals - Chemicals registered as pesticides
but which are produced and marketed mostly for other purposes, i.e., multi-use
chemicals. Notable examples are sulfur, petroleum products (e.g., kerosene,
oils and distillates), salt and sulfuric acid.

permit - A legal document issued by state and/or federal authorities
containing a detailed description of the proposed activity and operating
procedures as well as appropriate requirements and regulations. The permitting
process includes provisions for public comment.

Pesticide Chemical Code
(PC Code) - A six-digit number assigned by OPP
to identify pesticide chemicals. Also called a Shaughnessy code. The PC
Code is often used for searching computer databases because it is short
and easy to enter.

PDMS Bibliography - A list of citations of selected PDMS documents
and/or studies, usually for a single pesticide active
ingredient, sorted by MRID number or guideline
number.

pesticide residue - A film of pesticide
left on the plant, soil, container, equipment, handler, etc. after application
of the pesticide.

pesticide user expenditures - Dollar value of purchases by persons
or businesses applying pesticides, such as farmers, commercial
pesticide applicators and homeowners. Reported numbers are nominal
values for the years indicated, i.e., not adjusted or indexed for inflation.

pH - The measure of acidity or alkalinity of a chemical solution,
from 0-14. Anything neutral, for example, has a pH of 7. Acids have a
pH less than 7, bases (alkaline) greater than 7.

pheromones - Biochemicals
used to disrupt the mating behavior of insects

Point of Departure (PoD) - A dose that can be
considered to be in the range of observed responses, without significant
extrapolation. A PoD can be a data point or an estimated point that is
derived from observed dose-response data. A PoD is used to mark the beginning
of extrapolation to determine risk associated with lower environmentally
relevant human exposures.

point source - A stationary location
or fixed facility such as an industry or municipality that discharges
pollutants into air or surface water through pipes, ditches, lagoons,
wells, or stacks; a single identifiable source such as a ship or a mine.

pollution - Any substances in water, soil, or air that degrade
the natural quality of the environment, offend the senses of sight, taste,
or smell, or cause a health hazard. The usefulness of the natural resource
is usually impaired by the presence of pollutants and contaminants.

pollution prevention - Actively identifying equipment, processes,
and activities which generate excessive wastes or use toxic chemicals
and then making substitutions, alterations, or product improvements. Conserving
energy and minimizing wastes are pollution prevention concepts used in
manufacturing, sustainable agriculture, recycling, and clean air/clean
water technologies.

potable water - Raw or treated water that is considered safe to
drink.

private applicator - A category of applicator certification for
farmers and/or employees such that they can legally apply restricted
use pesticides or supervise others doing so who are not certified.

professional market - Sales of pesticides for application to industrial/commercial/governmental
sectors, homes and gardens by certified/commercial applicators.

public comment period - The time allowed for the members of an
affected community to express views and concerns regarding an action proposed
to be taken by EPA, such as a rulemaking, permit, or Superfund remedy
selection.

public water system - Any water system that regularly supplies
piped water to the public for consumption, serving at least an average
of 25 individuals per day for at least 60 days per year, or has at least
15 service connections.

Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) - A municipal or public
service district sewage treatment system.

quality assurance/quality control - A system of procedures, checks,
audits, and corrective actions to ensure that all technical, operational,
monitoring, and reporting activities are of the highest achievable quality.